It’s hasn’t been spring-like this week but Memorial Day weekend – with more seasonable weather – looms and summer isn’t far behind. (Who knew?)
That also means the return of seasonal rules and restrictions at Plymouth’s Long Beach. And yes, that includes regulations aimed at protecting nesting plovers, an endangered species. More on that later.
For starters, you’ll need a current beach sticker starting May 24 on weekends (and Memorial Day) through June 15. Beginning June 19 and through Sept. 1, a sticker will be needed daily, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A sticker allows access to all the town’s beaches and ponds. They cost between $45 and $90, depending on the type of pass and the applicant’s age. You can find a full price breakdown here. A sticker can be purchased online, at Town Hall, or by mail.
Day trippers can buy a one-day parking pass through the Passport app or at cash pay stations at Plymouth Beach. The stations are located at the bath house (adjacent to Sandy’s restaurant) and near lifeguard chair/beach ramp #5. The parking zone code is 1616. If you have a seasonal pass, there’s no need to use the pay kiosks.
If you’re just visiting Sandy’s for fried food, a nice view – and maybe a Summer Slammer cocktail – there are six parking spaces set aside that don’t require a sticker or pass. You can park there for up to two hours, but only when Sandy’s is open.
Now, on to the birds – a topic that always ruffles the feathers of some four-wheel-vehicle owners.
The town’s Department of Energy and Environment reports that because there’s a piping plover nest in “close proximity to the Crossover, we don’t expect to open for oversand vehicle access this weekend.”
It says there are also several nests along Ryder Way – the access road to the outer portions of the beach – that are on the verge of hatching. “If any of these nests hatch, portions of the road will close at 7:00 p.m. Before you head out to the beach, be sure to check the Long Beach Information page for updates on vehicle access,” the town said.
In addition, “There are several more nests in the Crossover area that are expected to hatch over the next few days. Piping plover chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching, and it’s amazing how far and fast their tiny legs can take them! They weigh only about six grams when they hatch, which is the weight of about 5 potato chips! Because piping plovers are protected by the Massachusetts and federal Endangered Species Acts, vehicles are restricted from areas where they are present to protect the chicks until they are able to fly, which can take up to 35 days.”
The department has counted 41 pairs of nesting plovers on Long Beach so far this spring, as of Thursday.
Dog owners should be aware that restrictions on these loyal family members took effect on April 1 and will be in place through Sept. 30. Canines are banned from all public property beginning at day-parking area – the small lot located about two-thirds of the way to the Crossover.
As long as your pet is on a leash, however, you can walk him or her along Ryder Way and the beach itself all the way to the day-parking lot, “excluding areas closed for shorebird nesting.” If you break the rules and get caught, expect a fine of up to $100. More information on violations can be found here.
Don’t forget to bring water for your dog and sunscreen for humans.
Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.